Log-truck loading device



July 19, 1966 Filed March 16, 1964 F. F. VAN RADEN 3,261,488

LOG-TRUCK LOADING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /28 J 1 A 58 f 34- 32 i 54 T 1 /2 26 O Q 24 23 0 O O f 0 Fig.4 56

FEEDER/CW}? VAN RADEN lNVENTOR. B)

BUG/(HORN, BLORE, KLAROU/ST 8 SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS July 19, 1966 F. F. VAN RADEN 3,261,488

LOG-TRUCK LOADING DEVI CE Filed March 16, 1964 2 Sheetsfiheet 2 /0 Fig.7

FEEDER/CK F V4N RADEN lNVE/V TOR.

BUCKHORN, BLORE, KLAROU/ST 8 SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,261,488 LOG-TRUCK LOADING DEVICE Frederick F. Van Raden, Portland, 0reg., assignor to Peerless Trailer & Truck Service, Inc., Portland, 0reg.,

a corporation of Oregon Filed Mar. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 352,078 18 Claims. (Cl. 214515) The present invention relates to a log-truck loading device and more particularly to a loading stand upon which logs and other equipment can be loaded, after which the loaded stand can itself be loaded upon a truck.

Although log-truck loading devices of the above sort have been previously suggested, such devices have not been developed to their maximum potential because of various imperfect features, all of which reduce the overall efiiciency of such devices and consequently discourage their use. Such features include overly complex power means for loading and unloading stands from their supporting trucks, unreliable means for retracting the legs which support the stands when not loaded on a truck, and diflic-ulty in aligning the log truck beneath the stand for loading the same.

Accordingly, a primary object of the invention is to provide a new and improved loading device which eliminates the above objections and therefore develops such devices to their full potential in efliciency.

Another primary object of the invention is to provide a new and improved loading device which when used in multiples reduces to a minimum the time required to load and unload a truck, thereby increasing correspondingly the amount of payload a single truck can carry within a given period of time.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a new and improved loading device that is light in weight and yet of sturdy and durable construction for supporting heavy loads.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved loading device which is self-supporting on rigid, non-telescoping legs which pivot inwardy beneath the stand without interfering with one another.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved loading device including a guide means which enables a truck easily to be aligned in loading position beneath the stand.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved loading device that can be swiftly and easily loaded on and unloaded from a truck by one man with a minimum of effort.

Another object is to provide a new and improved loading device that can be lifted from or lowered onto a truck by a simplified power arrangement which lifts only one end of the stand.

In furtherance of the above objects and in accordance with an illustrated embodiment, the loading device of the invention comprises a frame supported in tripod fashion on a pair of widely spaced-apart front legs and a single, retractable rear leg. The front legs are pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the frame with their pivotal axes skewed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the frame so that the legs, when unweighted, can be folded inwardly beneath the frame, one forwardly of the other. When a rearwardly extending bed of a truck is backed between the front legs and beneath a loaded, free-standing frame, a guide pin on the frame and cooperative guide slot on the bed engage one another to steer the bed into a predetermined frame-supporting position. When in such; position, a pair of hydraulic lift cylinders on the bed lift the front of the frame thereby tilting the entire frame rearwardly on its rear leg so that the front legs can be' retracted beneath the truck bed and the frame. Subse quently the cylinders lower the frame onto the bed of the truck whereupon the rear leg can be retracted and the truck driven to its destination. The frame is unloaded from the truck using a reverse procedure.

The above and other objects and advantages will become more apparent upon inspection of the following detailed description and the accompanying. drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the device in a self-supporting position;

FIG. 2 is a front end view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view showing the device in a position on a loaded truck and towing a trailer;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevational view showing the device in a position on a log truck;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan View taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5 showing the guide means of the device;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are schematic side elevational views showing a procedure for unloading the device from a log truck;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view showing the device on a truck and supporting an empty logging trailer; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view partly in section showing a portion of the device on the bed of a truck.

With reference to the drawings, the loading device illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 includes a load-bearing frame 10 composed of a pair of laterally spaced-apart longitudinal side members 12, joined by front and intermediate cross members 14 and 16, respectively. The frame 10 is supported in a generally horizontal disposition above the ground surface by a pair of inwardly folding front legs 18 and a single, shorter and upwardly telescoping rear leg 20. The extensible lower leg portion of the rear leg 20 has a widened base and telescopes within a stationary, hollow upper leg portion 21. The lower leg portion is secured in both its upper, retracted position and in its lower, frame-supporting position by a removable pin 22 which extends through an aperture in the upper leg portion and through one of many like through apertures in the lower leg portion. The rear portions of the side members 12 slope downwardly and inwardly in a direction toward the rear end of the frame, and meet at their rear extremities at a position considerably below the elevation of the front end of the frame for a purpose that will become apparent below.

A trailer hitch 23 is mounted on the rear extremity of the frame for connection to the tongue 24 of a logging trailer 26, as shown in FIG. 4. A bunk for supporting one end of a load of logs 28 is carried by the frame 10 and includes a cross beam 30 spanning the tops of the side members 12 and extending laterally beyond such side members, and a pair of upright stakes 32 at the opposite ends of the cross beam 30 between which the logs 28 are cradled. A similar bunk '34 on the trailer 26 supports the opposite end of the load of logs 28, whether the frame be free-standing as in FIG. 1, or supported on a logging truck as in FIG. 4.

Each front leg 18 comprises a rigid, inverted L-shaped member including a generally horizontally extending upper leg portion 36 pivotally mounted beneath an outer end portion 37 of the cross member 14 and a lower leg portion 38 extending normal to the upper leg portion 36. The lower leg portion 38 has an enlarged foot portion 40 at its lower extremity for engagement with the ground surface. The upper leg portion 36 is mounted beneath an outer end portion 37 of the cross member 14 so that when the lower leg portion 36 is vertical, the upper surface of the upper leg portion 36 abuts the lower surface of the outer end portion 37 to prevent the legs 18 from folding outwardly beyond the vertical. A pair of enlarged cap members 44 aflixed to the outer ends of the opposite end portions 37 each have a slotted lower portion which receives the upper leg portion 36 when the lower leg portions are vertical so as to stabilize the legs and frame 10 in the longitudinal direction.

An important feature ofthe device, as shown most clearly in FIG. 3, is that the opposite end portions 37 of the cross member 14 are skewed, or angled slightly, one forwardly and the other rearwardly relative to the axis of the later-ally extending intermediate portion of the cross member. The skew angle in each instance is equal and may be very small, as for example, 7 as illustrated.-

Because the pivotal axes 42 of the legs 18 are on the canted end portions 37, one leg 18 folds slightly forwardly beneath the frame 10, and the other leg 18 folds rearwardly beneath the frame so that the legs avoid contact with one another when in their collapsed positions as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 3.

Means are provided for partially retracting the legs 18 and retaining them in their collapsed positions after being folded part way inwardly by hand. The means provided include a tension spring 50 for each leg, attached at one end to an elbow portion 51 of the leg 18 and at the other end to a forwardly projecting portion of the cross member 14. Each spring 50, as shown best in FIG. 2, extends axially above the pivotal axis 42 when the corresponding leg 18 is vertical so that the leg resists collapse. When a leg 18 is folded slightly inwardly, however, the axis of its spring 50 extends below the pivotal axis 42 whereby the spring will continue to draw the leg inwardly beneath the frame to its collapsed position and retain it there until drawn outwardly again by hand. Accordingly, after the legs have been raised off the ground, they may be folded inwardly quickly and with little effort.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the frame 10 is adapted to be mounted on the rearwardly extending bed 54 of a logging truck, or tractor vehicle, 56 having a conventional body including a cab 58. For this purpose the upper leg portions 36 extend laterally beyond the opposite end portions 37 of the cross member 14 so that the lower leg portions 38, when supporting the frame 10, are spaced a slightly greater distance apart than the width of the truck bed 54 and its supporting wheels. The lower leg portions 38 are of suflicient length so that the bed 54 of the truck 56 can be backed beneath the frame 10 between the front legs 18 with a slight clearance provided between the frame and the bed, as shown in FIG. 8.

Cooperative guide means are provided on the frame 10 and on the bed 54 so that the bed 54 can be backed beneath the frame 10 in a single pass into a predetermined, centered position beneath the frame for supporting the latter. With reference to FIGS. and 6, the guide means includes a downwardly and forwardly extending rod member or pin 60 mounted centrally between the side members 12 on the sloping rear portion of the frame 10, and a guide member 62 mounted adjacent the rear end of the bed 54 centrally between the opposite side frame members 64 thereof. The guide member 62 has a rearwardly opening, V-shaped slot, or guideway, 66 for receiving the pin 60, which slot is considerably wider than the diameter of the rod 60 at the rearward extremity thereof, but narrows progressively in a direction forwardly of the bed 54. As the bed is backed beneath the frame, the rod 60 enters the slot 66 and guides the bed into a vertically aligned position beneath the frame.

Backing of the bed 54 beyond the desired predetermined position relative to the frame is prevented by engagement of the pin 60 against the forward end of the guideway 66. With the bed in this position, the frame 10 can be supported thereon when the forward and rear legs have been collapsed as shown in FIG. 5.

When the frame 10 is supported on the bed 54, the downwardly sloping and tapered rear end portion of the frame overhangs the rear end of the bed 54 so that the rear leg 20 may be extended into engagement with the 4 ground surface. It will be noted that the L-shaped configuration of the front legs 18 enables the lower leg portions 38 to extend beneath both the frame 10 and the truck bed 54 when collapsed. A pair of safety chains 68, one for each leg 18, hang from rearwardly extending bars 70 on opposite sides of the bed 54 and can be looped beneath the lower leg portions 38 for retaining the legs 18 in their collapsed positions when the truck is under way. Means are also provided for securing the frame on the bed 54 and include a pair of flange members 72, extending downwardly one from the outside of each of the opposite side members 12 between clevis members 73 on the corresponding side of the bed 54 .to which they are fastened by sliding bolt members 74.

As shown in FIG. 10, a pair of upwardly projecting positioning members 75 are mounted one on each of the opposite sides of the bed 54 just rearwardly of the cross member 14. The upper forward surface of each member 75 is curved so that the cross member 14 when lowered onto the bed 54 cannot become hung up on the members 75 and will always come to rest in front of such members. The members 75 serve to align the front of the frame 10 laterally and longitudinally of the bed 54 as well as to help prevent rearward and lateral shifting of the frame on the bed when the truck is in transit.

A pair of rearwardly inclined hydraulic lift cylinders 76 are mounted on mounting brackets 78, one on opposite sides of the bed 54, for lifting the front of the frame. The cylinders are aligned so that the enlarged outer ext-remities 80 of the piston rods therefor are received within forwardly projecting socket members 82 on the forward face of the cross member 14. The hydraulic controls (not shown) for energizing the cylinders may be mounted in the cab 58 or on the bed as desired, depending on the convenience of the operator. The frame, when lifted, tilts back on its rear leg 20, and additional leverage for this purpose is provided by the fact that the lines of force of the cylinders are very nearly normal to the direction of slope of the rear portions of the side members 12.

A length of heavy-duty pipe 84 extends laterally of the frame 10, and the opposite ends of such pipe extend laterally beyond the opposite side members 12 for partially supporting the rear tires 86 of an empty trailer 26 supported by the frame in the manner shown in FIG. 9. The front tires 88 of the trailer 26 are supported between a first pair of rearwardly extending wheel blocks 90 mounted on the rear face of the front c-ross member 14 and a second pair of wheel blocks 92, projecting forwardly from the cross beam 30 of the bunk unit on the frame. Other wheel blocks 94, 96 projecting rearwardly from the cross beam 30 and forwardly from the pipe length 84 retain the rear tires 86 of the trailer. The

Y stakes 32 of the bunk on the frame 10 are of suflicient length to engage the forward portion of the trailer bunk 34, so as to maintain the tongue 24 of the trailer 26 above and out of engagement with the top of the truck cab 58.

Operation The loading frame, or stand, 10 is used most eificiently in multiples in a relay system so that the driver of a single truck 56 will spend most of his time in transit between his loading and unloading points and spend a minimum of time loading and unloading. For example, for maximum efficiency at least three loading frames should be available for each truck including one frame and a corresponding trailer at the logging site preloaded with logs as in FIG. 1, a second frame at the mill site preloaded with an empty trailer in the manner shown in FIG. 9, and a third frame on the truck in transit loaded either with an empty trailer as in FIG. 9 or a load of logs as in FIG. 4.

When a truck loaded with logs as in FIG. 4 arrives at its destination, the driver first disconnects the trailer brake and light cables (not shown) from the truck and then lowers the telescoping rear leg 20 of the frame into engagement with the ground. Following this, the safety chains 68 are removed from beneath the legs 18, the fastening bolts 74 are released from engagement with the flange 72, and the power cylinders 76 are energized to lift the front end of the frame off the bed 54, thus pivoting or tilting the frame 10 upwardly and rearwardly on its rear leg 20 as shown in FIG. 7.

With the frame supported on its rear leg 20 and cylinders 76, the front legs 18 can be lowered into their frame-supporting positions by the operator," after which the cylinders are again energized to lower the frame onto its front legs as shown in FIG. 8. Thereafter the truck may be driven from beneath the log-loaded frame of FIG. 8 and then backed beneath another such frame loaded with an empty trailer 26 in the manner shown in FIG. 9.

The trailer-loaded frame is loaded onto the bed of the truck using the reverse of the procedure just described. That is, first the cylinders 76 lift the front end of the frame 10, thus rocking the frame back on its rear leg 20 whereby the front legs 18 may be folded beneath the frame and bed. Thereafter the cylinders 76 lower the frame onto the truck bed whereupon the frame is secured to the bed by the bolts 74. The rear leg 20 is then retracted and the safety chains 68 secured beneath the legs 18. The truck and trailer-loaded frame are then ready for travel to the logging site to pick up another load of logs.

At the logging site, of course, the same unloading and loading procedures are again repeated, whereby another frame and trailer combination, preloaded with logs, is loaded on the truck.

The unloading of one frame from and loading of another frame on the bed of a truck can be accomplished by one man in a very few minutes, thus vastly increasing the time that a truck can be in transit, resulting in a significant increase in payload carried by the truck in a given Work day.

Having illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention permits of modification in arrangement and detail. I claim as my invention all such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

'1. A log-truck loading device comprising in combination:

(a) a loading frame including a pair of transversely retractable front legs and a retractable rear leg for supporting said frame generally horizontally above the ground surface,

(b) a tractor vehicle, including a cab and a bed for supporting said frame extending rearwardly from said cab at a lower elevation than at least the front portion of said frame,

(c) said front legs being spaced relatively widely apart on opposite sides of said frame so that said bed can be backed between said front legs and into a predetermined frame-supporting position beneath said frame,

(d) and extensible lift means positioned on said bed for lifting the front end of said frame and pivoting the same on said rear leg when said bed is in its said predetermined position, so that said front legs can be retracted and said frame can be subsequently lowered onto said bed by said lift means.

2. A log-truck loading device comprising, in combination:

(a) a load-bearing frame including a pair of inwardly and upwardly pivotable front legs and a retractable rear leg for supporting said frame in a generally horizontal disposition,

(b) a tractor vehicle including a cab and a bed extending rearwardly from said cab for supporting said frame when said legs are retracted,

(c) said front legs being of a sufiicient length and being spaced a suflicient distance apart on opposite sides of said frame so that said bed can be backed beneath said frame between said front legs with a clearance between said frame and said bed,

(d) cooperative guide means on said frame and said bed for guiding said bed into a predetermined framesupporting position beneath said frame forwardly of said rear leg,

(e) and lift means on said bed for lifting the front end of said frame so that said front legs can be retracted while the rear end of said frame is supported on said rear leg.

3. A log-truck loading device comprising, in combination:

(a) a load-bearing frame including a retractable pair of front legs and a retractable rear leg for supporting said frame,

(b) a tractor vehicle including a cab and a frame bed extending rearwardly from said cab for supporting said frame,

(0) said front legs being of sufilcient length and being spaced a sufiiciently wide distance apart on opposite sides of said frame to enable said bed to be backed beneath said frame between said legs,

((1) guide means on said frame for limiting the rearward and lateral movement of said bed beneath said frame so that said bed is guided into a predetermined frame-supporting position when backed between said front legs,

(e) a rear end portion of said frame supporting said rear leg, extending rearwardly beyond said bed when said bed is in its said predetermined position,

(f) power lift means on said bed adjacent the forward end of said frame when said bed is in said predetermined position, for lifting the front end of said frame so that said front legs can be retracted while said frame is supported by said cylinder means and said rear leg,

(g) said front legs each being pivotable on said frame about a generally longitudinal axis such that said legs are retractable transversely beneath the bed of said traction vehicle when said frame is supported by said bed,

(h) the subsequent lowering of said forward end of said frame following the retraction of said front legs enabling the retraction of said rear leg so that said frame is wholly sup-ported by said bed.

4. A log-truck loading device comprising, in combination:

(a) a load-bearing frame including laterally spacedapart longitudinal side members and a front cross member having opposite end portions extending laterally beyond said side members,

(b) a pair of inwardly collapsible front legs, one pivotally mounted on each of said opposite ends for supporting the front end of said frame,

(0) an upwardly retractable rear leg for supporting the rear end of said frame,

(d) a tractor vehicle including a cab and a frame bed extending rearwardly from said cab for supporting said frame when said front and rear legs are retracted,

(c) said front legs being of sufficient length and being spaced a sufficient distance apart so that said bed can be backed beneath said frame between said front legs,

(f) cooperative guide means on said bed and said frame for guiding said bed into a predetermined framesupporting position beneath said frame,

(g) the rear end portion of said frame supporting said rear leg, extending rearwardly beyond the back end of said bed when said bed is in its said predetermined position,

(h) a pair of power lift means mounted on opposite sides of said bed adjacent said front cross member,

(i) socket means on said front cross member for receiving the extensible ends of said power cylinder means so that the extension of said power cylinder means lifts the front end of said frame while the back end of said frame remains supported on said rear leg thereby enabling said front leg to be collapsed beneath said frame and said bed,

(j) and stop means on said bed for engaging said frame and thus preventing rearward shifting of said frame relative to said bed when said frame is lowered by said lift means onto said bed following the retraction of said front legs.

5. A log-truck loading device comprising:

(a) a frame, including a front cross member,

(b) a pair of upwardly and inwardly swingable front leg members pivotally mounted one on each of opposite end portions of said cross member for supporting the front end of said frame,

(c) said opposite end portions being angled in opposite directions one forwardly and the other rearwardly from the intermediate portion of said cross member such that said legs are collapsible inwardly under said frame about their respective pivotal axes without interfering with one another.

6. A log-truck loading device according to claim wherein:

(a) each of said front leg members is rigid and includes a lower leg portion generally vertical when in a frame-supporting position, and

(b) an upper leg portion generally normal to said lower leg portion and pivotally mounted on one of said opposite end portions of said cross members inwardly of the extremity of said one opposite end portion,

(c) said upper leg portion extending horizontally beneath said opposite end portion with an upper surface of said upper leg portion in abutment with a lower surface of said opposite end portion so that said lower leg portion is prevented from pivoting outwardly substantially beyond the vertical when supporting said frame.

7. A log-truck device according to claim 6 wherein:

(a) the pivotal axis of each of said front legs is positioned below said lower surface,

and further wherein said device comprises:

(b) leg retainer means, including tension spring means extending between each said leg portion and said cross member, said spring means being positioned with respect to said pivotal axis so that said front legs are urged by said spring to their retracted positions when pivoted underneath said frame and so that said legs are urged by such spring into engagement with said cross member end portions when in their frame-supporting positions.

8. A log-truck loading device comprising:

(a) a frame, including a laterally spaced-apart pair of longitudinal side members and a front cross member extending laterally between said side members to define a front end of said frame,

(b) the rear end portions of said side members sloping downwardly and inwardly toward one another to define a tapered rear end of said frame,

(c) an upwardly retractable rear leg supporting said rear end,

(d) a pair of retractable front legs mounted on opposite end portions of said front cross member for supporting said front end,

(e) and bunk means for supporting the front end of a load of logs extending laterally of and above said side members intermediate said front and rear ends.

9. A log-truck loading device comprising, in combination:

(a) a loading frame, including a pair of front legs and a rear leg for freely supporting said frame in a generally horizontal disposition,

(b) a tractor vehicle, including a front cab and a bed extending rearwardly from said cab for supporting said frame when said legs are retracted,

(c) said front legs being of sufficient length and spaced a sufficient distance apart on opposite sides of said frame so that said bed can be backed beneath said frame,

(d) said front legs being retractable transversely on generally longitudinal pivots beneath said bed when said frame is supported by said bed,

(e) a guide pin projecting downwardly and forwardly from a central portion of said frame,

(f) a guide member mounted centrally on a rear end portion of said frame bed,

(g) said guide member being provided with a rearwardly opening longitudinal guideway for receiving said pin,

(h) the width of said guideway at its rearward open end being substantially greater than the thickness of said pin and becoming progressively narrower in a forward direction so that said bed when backed beneath said frame is guided into a predetermined laterally and longitudinally aligned position beneath said frame for supporting said frame when said legs are retracted.

10. A log-truck loading device comprising, in combination:

(a) a load-bearing frame including laterally spacedapart longitudinal side members and a front cross member having opposite end portions extending laterally beyond said side members,

(b) a pair of inwardly collapsible front legs, one pivotally mounted on each of said opposite ends for supporting the front end of said frame,

(c) an upwardly retractable rear leg for supporting the rear end of said frame,

(d) a tractor vehicle including a cab and a frame bed extending rearwardly from said cab for supporting said frame when said front and rear legs are retracted,

(e) said front legs being of sufiicient length and being spaced a sufficient distance apart so that said bed Tan be backed beneath said frame between said front egs,

(f) cooperative guide means on said bed and said frame for guiding said bed into a predetermined frame-supporting position beneath said frame,

(g) the rear end portion of said frame supporting said rear leg, extending rearwardly beyond the back end of said bed when said bed is in its said predetermined position,

'(h) a pair of power lift means mounted on opposite sides of said bed adjacent said front cross member,

(i) socket means on said front cross member for receiving the extensible ends of said power lift means so that the extension of said lift means lifts the front end of said frame while the back end of said frame remains supported on said rear leg thereby enabling said front legs to be collapsed beneath said frame and said bed,

(j) and stop means on said bed for engaging said frame and thus prevent-ing the rearward shifting of said frame relative to said bed when said frame is lowered by said lift means onto said bed following the retraction of said front legs,

(k) said longitudinal side members sloping downwardly at the rear end portion of said frame and supporting said rear leg,

(I) said power lift means being positioned on said bed slightly forwardly of said cross' member and having a direction of lift extending slightly rearwardly relative to said frame such that said direction of lift is substantially normal to the slope of said side members.

11. A log-truck loading device comprising, in combination:

(a) a load-bearing frame including laterally spacedapart longitudinal side members and a front cross member having opposite end portions extending laterally beyond said side members,

(b) a pair of inwardly collapsible front legs, one pivotally mounted on each of said opposite ends for supporting the front end of said frame,

(c) an upwardly retractable rear leg for supporting the rear end of said frame,

(d) a tractor vehicle including a cab and a frame bed extending rearwardly from said cab for supporting said frame when said front and rear legs are retracted,

(e) said front legs being of sufficient length and being spaced a sufiicient distance apart so that said bed can be backed beneath said frame between said front legs,

(f) cooperative guide means on said bed and said frame for guiding said bed into a predetermined framesupporting position beneath said frame,

(g) the rear end portion of said frame supporting said rear leg, extending rearwardly beyond the back end of said bed when said bed is in its said predetermined position,

(h) a pair of power lift means mounted on opposite sides of said bed adjacent said front cross member,

(i) socket means on said front cross member for receiving the extensible ends of said power lift means so that the extension of said lift means lifts the front end of said frame While the back end of said frame remains supported on said rear leg thereby enabling said front legs to be collapsed beneath said frame and said bed,

(j) and stop means on said bed for engaging said frame and thus preventing the rearward shifting of said frame relative to said bed when said frame is lowered by said lift means onto said bed following the retraction of said front legs,

(k) said guide means including a pin extending downwardly and forwardly from the rear end of said frame, and a guide means on the rear of said bed having a rearwardly opening V-shaped guideway for receiving said pin.

12. A log-truck loading device comprising, in combination:

(a) a load-bearing frame including laterally spacedapart longitudinal side members and a front cross member having opposite end portions extending laterally beyond said side members,

(b) a pair of inwandly collapsible front legs, one pivotally mounted on each of said opposite ends for supporting the front end of said fame,

(c) an upwardly retractable rear leg for supporting the rear end of said frame,

(d) a tractor vehicle including a cab and a frame bed extending rearwardly from said cab for supporting said frame when said front and rear legs are retracted,

(e) said front leg-s being of sufiicient length and being spaced a suificient distance apart so that said bed can be backed beneath said frame between said front legs,

(f) cooperative guide means on said bed and said frame for guiding said bed into a predetermined frame-supporting position beneath said frame,

(g) the rear end portion of said frame supporting said rear leg, extending rearwardly beyond the back end of said bed when said bed is in its said predetermined position,

(h) a pair of power lift means mounted on opposite sides of said bed adjacent said front cross member,

(i) socket means on said front cross member for receiving the extensible ends of said power lift means so that the extension of said lift means lifts the front end of said frame while the back end of said frame remains supported on said rear leg thereby enabling said front legs to be collapsed beneath said frame and said bed,

(j) and stop means on said bed for engaging said frame and thus preventing the rearward shifting of said frame relative to said bed when said frame is lowered by said lift means onto said bed following the retraction of said front legs,

(k) said longitudinal side members sloping downwardly and tapering progressively inwardly at the rear end portion of said frame,

(1) said device including a hitching means at the rear extremity of said side members for hitching a trailing vehicle to said frame.

13. A log-truck loading device comprising, in combination:

(a) a load-bearing frame including laterally spacedapart longitudinal side members and a front cross member having opposite end portions extending laterally beyond said side members,

(b) a pair of inwardly collapsible front legs, one pivotally mounted on each of said opposite ends for upporting the front end of said frame,

(c) an upwardly retractable rear leg for supporting the rear end of said frame,

(d) a tractor vehicle including a cab and a frame bed extending rearwardly from said cab for supporting said frame when said front and rear legs are retracted,

(e) said front legs being of sufficient length and being spaced a sufficient distance apart so that said bed can be backed beneath said frame between said front legs,

(f) cooperative guide means on said bed and said frame for guiding said bed into a predetermined frame-supporting position beneath said frame,

(g) the rear end portion of said frame supporting said rear leg, extending rearwardly beyond the back end of said bed when said bed is in its said predetermined position,

(h) a pair of power lift means mounted on opposite sides of said bed adjacent said front cross member,

(i) socket means on said front cross member for receiving the extensible ends of said power lift means so that the extension of said lift means lifts the front end of said frame while the back end of said frame remains supported on said rear leg thereby enabling said front legs to be collapsed beneath said frame and said bed,

(j) and stop means on said bed for engaging said frame and thus preventing the rearward shifting of said frame relative to said bed when said frame is lowered by said lift means onto said bed following the retraction of said front legs,

(k) said front legs being rigid and said opposite ends of said front cross members being canted one forwardly and the other rearwardly equal amounts relative to the intermediate portion of said cross member such that said front legs swing inwardly in substantially parallel planes beneath said frame about their respective pivotal axes whereby said legs clear one another when in their collapsed positions.

14. A log-truck loading device comprising, in combination:

(a) a load-bearing frame including laterally spaced apart longitudinal side members and a front cross member having opposite end portions extending laterally beyond said side members,

(b) a pair of inwardly collapsible front legs, one pivotally mounted on each of said opposite ends for supporting the front end of said frame,

(c)an upwardly retractable rear leg for supporting the rear end of said frame,

(d) a tractor vehicle including a cab and a frame bed extending rearwardly from said cab for supporting 1 1 said frame when said front and rear legs are retracted,

(e) said front legs being of sufficient length and being spaced a sufficient distance apart so that said bed can be backed beneath said frame between said front legs,

(f) cooperative guide means on said bed and said frame for guiding said bed into a predetermined frame-supporting position beneath said frame,

(g) the rear end portion of said frame supporting said rear leg, extending rearwardly beyond the back end of said bed when said bed is in its said predetermined position,

(h) a pair of power lift means mounted on opposite sides of said bed adjacent said front cross member,

(i) socket means on said front cross member for receiving the extensible ends of said power lift means so that the extension of said lift means lifts the front end of said frame While the back end of said frame remains supported on said rear leg thereby enabling said front legs to be collapsed beneath said frame and said bed, i

(j) and stop means on said bed for engaging said frame and thus preventing the rearward shifting of said frame relative to said bed when said frame is lowered by said lift means onto said bed following the retraction of said front legs,

(k) said front legs each extending laterally outwardly beyond the outer end extremities of said cross member.

15. In a log-truck loading device including a tractor vehicle having a cab and a frame bed extending rearwardly from said cab,

(a) a load frame removable from said bed,

(b) said load frame including a front cross member,

(c) a pair of front leg members pivotally mounted on said cross member for supporting the front end of said frame and for upward swinging movement beneath said frame when said frame is supported on said bed,

(d) each of said front leg members being rigid and including a lower leg portion generally vertical when in a frame-supporting position and an upper leg portion normal to said lower leg portion,

(e) said upper leg portion extending generally horizontally beneath one of the opposite ends of said cross member in abutment therewith when said leg member is in a frame-supporting position and being pivoted to said cross member inwardly of said one end such that said lower leg portion is prevented by said cross member from pivoting outwardly substantially beyond the vertical when in a frame-supporting position,

(f) and resilient leg-positioning means extending between said front leg members and said cross member and positioned with respect to the pivotal axes of said front leg members such that said leg members are urged by said resilient means to their framesupporting positions when said positions are approximated and such that saidleg members are urged by said resilient means to their collapsed positions beneath said frame when pivoted slightly inwardly from their frame-supporting positions while said frame is supported by said bed.

16. In a log-truck loading device comprising in combination a load-bearing frame adapted to be self-supporting and a tractor vehicle including a cab and a bed for supporting said frame extending rearwardly from said cab at a lower elevation than at least the front portion of said frame when the latter is self-supporting,

said frame including a pair of transversely retractable front legs and a retractable rear leg for supporting said frame above the ground surface,

said front legs being spaced relatively widely apart on opposite sides of said frame so that said bed can be backed between said front legs and into a predetermined frame-supporting position beneath said frame, each said front leg including a short upper leg portion extending generally horizontally when said front leg is in a frame-supporting position and a longer lower leg portion generally normal to said upper leg portion so that when said front legs are retracted and the frame supported on the bed, the lower leg portions thereof pivot inwardly beneath said bed.

17. A log-truck loading device according to claim 16 wherein said front legs are of fixed length and said frame includes leg mounting means mounting said front legs for upward swinging movement beneath said bed one forwardly of the other so that said front legs avoid conflict with one another when retracted.

18. A log-truck loading device according to claim 16 wherein the pivotal axes for said front legs are skewed relative to the longitudinal axis of said frame so that one front leg swings slightly forwardly beneath said frame and the other front leg swings slightly rearwardly beneath said frame.

' References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,129,340 9/1938 Webber 214-515 2,151,640 3/1939 Menning 214-515 X 2,177,295 10/1939 Stebbins 108130 2,546,816 3/1951 Benvissuto 108l30 2,555,336 6/1951 Hagely 25486 2,598,099 5/1952 Bates et al.

2,681,790 6/ 1954 Taber.

2,703,659 3/1955 Hutchins 214--5l5 2,926,889 3/1960 Obes 280150.5 X 3,096,894 7/1963 Proler et al. 214 -515 3,135,407 6/1964 Back 214515 3,211,313 10/1965 Katz 214515 FOREIGN PATENTS 704,550 2/1954 Great Britain.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

A. J. MAKAY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A LOG-TRUCK LOADING DEVICE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A LOADING FRAME INCLUDING A PAIR OF TRANSVERSELY RETRACTABLE FRONT LEGS AND A RETRACTABLE REAR LEG FOR SUPPORTING SAID FRAME GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY ABOVE THE GROUND SURFACE, (B) A TRACTOR VEHICLE, INCLUDING A CAB AND A BED FOR SUPPORTING SAID FRAME EXTENDING REARWARDLY FROM SAID CAB AT A LOWER ELEVATION THAN AT LEAST THE FRONT PORTION OF SAID FRAME, (C) SAID FRONT LEGS BEING SPACED RELATIVELY WIDELY APART ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID FRAME SO THAT SAID BED CAN BE BACKEED BETWEEN SAID FROANT LEGS AND INTO A PREDETERMINED FRAME-SUPPORTING POSITION BENEATH SAID FRAME, (D) AND EXTENSIBLE LIFT MEANS POSITIONED ON SAID BED FOR LIFTING THE FRONT END OF SAID FRAME AND PIVOTING THE SAME ON SAID REAR LEG WHEN SAID BED IS IN ITS SAID PREDETERMINED POSITION, SO THAT SAID FRONT LEGS CAN BE RETRACTED AND SAID FRAME CAN BE SUBSEQUENTLY LOWERED ONTO SAID BED BY SAID LIFT MEANS. 